Do you have difficulties getting out of a chair?

The ability to stand up from a chair is a key skill to maintain independence and mobility. As you get older you lose strength in the hip and knee extensors which are the muscles that help straighten our legs. In this blog I am first going to discuss how to get out of a chair safely before going on to describe some exercises to strengthen the legs.

How to stand up safely

Move your bottom to the edge of the chair.

Place both feet flat on the floor.

Place both hands on the arm rests of the chair. If there are no arm rests, then place both hands on the edge of the chair.

Lean forward so that your nose is over your toes.

Push down through your arms as you help unload your weight off the chair.

As you are pushing down through your arms, begin straightening your legs.

Let go of the chair and finish straightening your legs

To be able to stand up from a chair without assistance requires strong leg muscles. The following exercises practiced a few times a week will help impove your ability to stand from your chair. Before doing the exercises march in place in your chair for a couple of minutes, this will help restore mobility to the hip joint and also warm up the leg muscles.

Keeping left foot on floor and upper body still, slowly extend the right leg (bending from the knee) until it is parallel with the floor. Hold here for 2 counts

Bend knee to lower right leg back to floor.

Repeat 10 times and then change legs.

Standing Gluteal Kick backs

Stand behind a high backed chair holding on the back for balance. Avoid leaning forward during the exercise.

Lift one leg behind you keeping the raised leg straight but have a slight bend in the leg you are standing on. Hold for a count of 5.

Slowly lower leg.

Repeat 10 times and then change legs.

Seated Calf raises

Start by sitting upright in a high backed chair with your back straight and your legs bent so that your feet are flat on the floor.

Press your legs upward so that your heels are off the ground and only your toes and the balls of the top of your foot are still in contact with the floor.

Hold at the top of the movement for two seconds, and slowly lower back down.

Repeat 10 times.

Sit to Stand

Sit in a high backed chair and slide forward as far as possible

Move your feet back so your heels are lined up with the front edge of the chair.

Use your bottom and legs to stand up. Try only to use your hands on the chair for balance if necessary. If this is too difficult then you can put some cushions to raise the level of the seat.

Repeat 5 times. If possible practice this exercise daily.

These exercises will not only help you stand from a chair unassisted but also improve your ability to walk up and down stairs, reach for something on a high shelf and improve your balance.

If you have any questions on this article, or any questions about exercise and the over-50s please post a comment. By subscribing to this blog you will be informed of any new articles. You will not receive any spam email.

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About Whole Life FitnessWhole Life Fitness is a Personal Training business which caters exclusively to the over 50s. It is run by Helen Witcomb in Farnham, Surrey and the surrounding areas.
Personal training is not just for the fit and healthy. Leading a more physically active lifestyle will help to maintain an ability to perform everyday tasks as well as helping to prevent immobility and isolation.
For more information please call 07785747669, email helenwitcomb@wholelifefitness.co.uk or go to our website at http://www.wholelifefitness.co.uk

Whole Life Fitness is a Personal Training business which caters exclusively to the over 50s. This blog will contain exercises, tips and articles that deal with health and fitness issues for the over-50s. For more information please go to http://www.wholelifefitness.co.uk

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